this assessment, you are to synthesize a process flowsheet and determine process

conditions by utilizing appropriate chemical engineering principles, methods, and

tools.

Production of Monoethanolamine $($MEA$)$

A new facility to produce Monoethanolamine $($MEA$)$ is being considered due to an

increase in demand. Therefore, you have been requested to design a plant to produce

$10,000$ metric tons per annum of MEA $($at $99\mathrm{.}5\%$ purity$).$ The plant is to be located in

Richards Bay, South Africa.

The following feed streams are available:

$$ Ammonia feed is available at $10$ atm and $50\backslash$deg C from an adjacent plant.

Ammonia is available as an aqueous solution of $55$ wt$.\%$ of ammonia and $45$

wt$.\%$ water.

$$ Ethylene Oxide $(99\mathrm{.}99\%$ pure$)$ is available at $5$ atm and $40\backslash$deg C$.$

$$ A reaction temperature of $150$ oC is maintained in the reactor, and a pressure

of $160$ atmospheres to avoid the evaporation of ammonia.

$$ Under specified conditions of reaction, only MEA is produced when the feed

ratio of Ammonia $/$Ethylene oxide is $10.$

$$ The plant should operate for $330$ days a year to allow for shutdown and

maintenance.

You need to consider alternative design decisions.

$1.$ Decide whether the process is batch or continuous.

$2.$ Conduct material balances to determine the target feed requirements.

$3.$ Consider whether a recycling system is required.

$4.$ Consider different conversion rates to determine how this will affect the feed

requirements and process flowsheet.

$5.$ Determine the amount of heat to be added or removed from the system by

conducting an energy balance.

$6.$ Determine the thermodynamic favourability of the reaction at standard

conditions and reaction conditions.

$7.$ Determine process conditions for the separation units.

$8.$ Determine the effect of the inerts on the system.

$9.$ Determine the effect of pressure on compression work.